The place is called Virasat-E-Khalsa. It is also known as Khalsa Heritage Complex. But for the local and ordinary folks the unique monument in Anandpur Sahib near Chandigarh is simply known as "Ajuba". And it certainly is a wonder.

With the help of latest in sound and information technology along with impressive architect influenced by the surrounding historic structures in Anandpur Sahib, the place is really an awesome marvel.

It is much more than just a tourist attraction. It is a place of knowledge and inspiration presented in concise and easy steps as one walks along the galleries of the museum.

Massive and colorful murals portray the heroic and vibrant history of Sikhs under the leadership of their gurus. The whole learning experience is guided by "auto-trigger" headphone with crisp commentators' voice that it is indeed an absorbing class in Sikh history."This museum aims at illuminating the vision of Sikh Gurus".

Impressively designed by Israeli architect Moshe Safdie, the museum along with the surrounding water pools is spread over an area of 65 acres. It is almost walking distance from the historic Ananadpur Sahib Gurdwara, the birth place of the Khalsa Panth.
-Promod Puri

Culture Supersedes Religion To Establish National Identity

Culture Supersedes Religion in Establishing National Identity

By Promod Puri

Culture is a distinctive feature of one group of people comprising of several aspects. One of them is religion, and the others are language, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Obviously, one aspect of a culture does not represent the totality of it.

The expression "Hindu culture" is as vague as saying Hindu cuisine (except by airlines referring to "Hindu meal"). And it is as much blurred as trying to contrive a language, music, arts, customs, etc with suffix of Hindu. This applies to all other religions as well who try to create a culture exclusively linked to their faiths.

Culture in most cases is secular in nature.

When we talk about a cultural community, we mean an all inclusive explicit way of life. It represents all the group of people sharing common identities despite belonging to different religious denominations. But all speaking same language and sharing same social and cultural traits.

Often people of one cultural community have several religions. These sub differentiations are covered by conventions and customs. Together these are represented by the sanctified rituals on which Hindu tradition, Sikh, Muslim or Christian traditions establish their respective identities.

The unity of India lies in its cultural plurality. This factor was the basis of states' reorganization at the time of India's independence in 1947. Each state was constituted representing the cultural homogeneity of that region. And wherever there were more than one homogeneity states split respectively. Thus the cultural aspirations of people have been adequately addressed.

"India is a colorful country" mainly because of the exuberant nature of its diverse cultures. The cultural sameness in each Indian state along with the religious diversity is the accepted model for both political and administrative purposes.

Whereas each Indian state mostly represent one single cultural distinctiveness, it is the state of Jammu and Kashmir which within itself does carry more than one identity. The state has three regions, namely Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. And each one of them is culturally, religiously, geographically and even climatically different. Azad Kashmir under Pakistan domain has its own identity which is again quiet varied from rest of Jammu and Kashmir state.

The Kashmir problem has never been examined and tackled from its diversity aspect. The politics of the state has always been dominated, controlled and represented by the Muslim leadership of the Valley from the Kashmir region. The multi-facet and heterogeneous character of the state is the undetermined reality which otherwise can play a dominant role in resolving the Kashmir problem. Aligning the issue only on religious basis because about 64 percent of the state's population is Muslim is a futile exercise to determine its fate. By not allowing the diversity factor in the Kashmir debate is suppression of its other identities as well.

In a democratic setup regions or nations which play only the religious factor in politics and governance, always have cultural identity crisis.

That has been the fate of Pakistan. It does not recognize and accept that the country's cultural affinity lies with India which it can't shake off. Both the political and military leaderships of the country in their hatred toward India try to establish a religious-based Arabic identity. Naturally, this is not working.

Pakistan must realize that cultural-based identities cut across religious-based identities. And the former can play more decisive and healthier roles in determining a cohesive and stable future for the country.

Perhaps Pakistan can learn from Canada as how the latter is establishing its national identity.

In a multicultural Canadian society there are a multitude of cultures, traditions and religions, with lot more sub banners within each group. It is a myriad with a diversified web which gives Canada an image of acceptance and tolerance.

This certainly is a unique experience in human social history to be represented by one culture which collectively is a multi-culture.

Canadian culture is not only ever evolutionary but vibrant and lively too. The reason being its multi-facet aspect which gives it the color and character of being involving and exciting.

-30-

( Promod Puri is a former editor and publisher of South Asian Canadian weekly newspaper, The Link, retired and resides in Vancouver, Canada).

Rituals And Religions

Rituals Add Color And Complexity To Religions

By Promod Puri

All religions are basically the same. It is their respective rituals which differentiate them.

The underlining pathway of all religions is a treasury of morals and ethics, dos and don'ts.

Rituals originated from local customs and traditions and from the priest class. The latter also sanctified them.

Rituals give color and shape to religion, which otherwise could be a bland presentation. And that is how each religion gets individual character and lot more complexity.

LIFE IS A GAME OF SOCCER

LIFE IS A GAME OF SOCCER

By Promod Puri

All our thoughts and actions are influenced and regulated by the consciousness of the "landscape of reality" around us. In this landscape one makes a selection of his or her own space in life's play field.

And the game starts. It is a collective game, a team game. There is no absolute independence. Our individual likes and dislikes, thoughts and behaviors, actions and reactions, morals and rules, all are parts of the game. Social and environmental structures around us are the team's norms shaping and steering the game.

Stamina, discipline and coordination in these environments help in scoring our goals. Individual performance determines the scale of awards. Ronaldo and Messi based on their skills, hardworking and some luck collect millions while others make less.

Environmental selection is limited. There is seldom a level play. Speeding race toward the goal is unexpectedly blocked.  We are tripped by those who get yellow and red cards. We fall and are bruised. New strategies kick in. Still challenges are a constant. We keep on running toward the goal while being pushed back and forth. And the participation goes on.

The Referee blows the final whistle. And the game is over.

This is our father, Shri Shanti Sarup Puri, and grandfather and great-grandfather to our children and their children. He was a forester and retired as Divisional Forest Officer, a high post responsible for the growth and conservation of forests in the state of Jammu & Kashmir. His reasonable salary was what he earned and spent, but he enriched his life with dedicated service, sincerity, honesty and being kindhearted. A story about him goes like this: during the 1947 communal riots a mob of rage-packed fanatic Hindu youth armed with swords came to his residence and demanded that he immediately handover all the Muslim women and children, whom he was protecting by giving them safe shelter. My father came out with a loaded rifle and with courage he shouted that if any one in that angry mob would move forward and tried to enter the house he would shoot and kill each one of them. Nobody dared, and all the women and their kids were saved. Besides being a daring person our father was a religious man starting his day by reading Gita, Japji-sahib, and after morning walk and bath he would go thru Guru Granth Sahib which was diligently underlined with red-blue pencil. This picture was taken in front of the bungalow in Dehra Doon's Forest Research Institution where he worked for few years after his retirement in late '50s. The place was on a sloping street where as a 10-year-old kid I used to bicycle, occasionally taking my hands and feet off from the handle and the paddle and that acrobat move once resulted in breaking my right arm. These are nostalgic memories of my childhood and my father. Happy Fathers' Day.

Book Review: G.S.Bhatia

Book Review By Promod Puri
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Truth, Love, Non-violence, The Story Of Gurcharan Singh Bhatia

The fascinating story of Gurcharan Singh Bhatia, a man of conviction and compassion with multiple virtues, began when as a teenager he courageously saved the life of a Muslim toddler girl picked up from a heap of corpses dumped on a street as a result of ferocious and indiscriminate bloody communal riots during the India- Pakistan partition in 1947.

In a recently released book, titled Truth, Love, Non-violence, The  Story Of Gurcharan Singh Bhatia, author Alexis Kienlen has compiled an interesting biography of this 'Complex personality with many facets', who migrated to Canada in early '60s and now retired in Edmonton, Alberta, after having a long, exciting and eventful life as a political and social activist, businessman and human rights advocate. The book is available on Amazon.ca.

Powered by extensive research the author, providing a brief introduction to Sikhism and its teachings of equality of all human beings, service, charity and sharing, has entrenched the connect between these tenets of the Sikh religion and Bhatia's life. Moreover, Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violent protest against British rule, respect and tolerance of fellow human beings and moral courage has quite an impact on Bhatia's own thinking and attitude toward fellow human beings.

So influenced by the doctrine of non-violent actions, principles of truth, justice and equality, that these have remained lifelong guiding ethics in Bhatia's life. And perhaps for that reason the author has devoted a full chapter highlighting Gandhi's messages and struggles toward India's freedom and the emancipation of its people from social evils of racial and religious prejudices.

His devout religious mother, who also apprehended Gandhi's message of non-violence that "made sense and he was the voice of the reason", and his father's utmost belief in "truth is God and God is truth", that Bhatia adhered to these moral values throughout his life.

Following the Gandhi's leadership Bhatia being a fearless fighter, actively involved himself quite early in life with the freedom movement both for India and his own state of Jammu and Kashmir from the autocratic maharajah rule.

The Independence, which partitioned the subcontinent into two separate nations of India and Pakistan, was defaced by 'massacres, bloodshed and extreme acts of violence' between Hindus and Sikhs on one side and Muslims on the other. The sovereignty 'resulted in millions of refugees, economic disruption and social unrest'.

It is in this troubled and distressed backdrop in which his own family also suffered immensely in the loss of many family members and their properties, that the author has elaborately woven a captivating episode of Bhatia when he was merely 16-year-old.

His political activism in Kashmir affairs makes an interesting chapter of the book which  revealed how he along with his lifelong friend Balraj Puri were able to convince Prime Minister Nehru to help bring a democratic governing system in Kashmir.

After the death of his father during the partition riots, the young Bhatia, being eldest of the siblings, took on himself the responsibility of being the breadwinner of the family. Beside political activism he felt "life is question of survival" too.

Gurcharan Singh Bhatia is the story of a hardworking and goal seeking man who with determination, self confidence and discipline studied diligently to become a chartered accountant. And in pursuits of 'adventure and knowledge' he went to Glasgow, England, to study business management and administration.

With his academic background and professional credentials Bhatia returned to India to join his uncle's travel business.

And while he was settling down in his job, he met 'the love of his life and his soul mate' Jagjit Puri, popularly known as Jiti, whom he married in 1962. And ever since it has been the most dedicated relationship between the two. However, as they say behind every successful man there stands a woman, he acknowledges "her patience, attitude and capacity to handle the problems in the family that helped us".

As destiny had its own plans that after their marriage the family moved to Canada along their daughter. Initially, they settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba, which was a tough choice back in early '60s, and that too in a place known for severe winter weather of sub-zero temperatures.

But in Winnipeg Bhatia soon became an accomplished businessman as a senior partner in a real estate developing company which thru its various projects literally changed the city's downtown landscape. Later in early '80s he moved to Edmonton where beside being a developer he involved himself more actively in community and social activities with particular interest in human rights.

The author's extensive narration of Bhatia's life in Canada gives a very vivid description as how this family man faced initial hardships of settling down while sticking to his ethics and principles based on his Sikh religious teachings. "Accepting challenges and never "give up our efforts......this is an attitude that has helped me to grow, think and survive", was his mantra of success and becoming part of the Canadian mosaic while retaining his Sikh and ethnic identity.

A recipient of the Order of Canada, the highest honor for a civilian Canadian, Bhatia submits "I knew I had entered business for a living, but at the same time, I thought I could play a better role - one that could be satisfying for me and my family, the community and the future, promoting multiculturalism, Canadian citizenship and human rights"

His life's diverse profile includes being accountant, real estate owner and developer, entrepreneur, newspaper publisher and journalist, community activist, member of the Canadian human rights commission, persuasive involvement in Canada's political, social and human rights affairs, and Citizenship Judge.

He helped in redefining the phrase "Canadian values", to include "tolerance of ethnic and religious diversity, acceptance of new immigrants".

And lately even in his senior years Bhatia is fervently involved in the Edmonton-based International Association for Citizens for a Civil Society, which was created to promote better understanding and peace among peoples with different religious backgrounds. The association's civil society theme is based on "five pillars", which are: right and respect for the life of every born and living human being; the promotion of the rule of law; justice and non-violence; advancement of literacy and education; and promotion of human rights and Canadian values.

A key project of the Civil Society is to hold an annual Daughters Day to recognize the achievements and contributions of women, and bring awareness of gender equality. "Daughters Day is another creation that is part of the man's legacy", writes the author about Bhatia.

A distinguishing aspect of Bhatia's personality the book brings out is that of his humorous nature. " I take everything seriously, but I know there is humor in everything, too", Bhatia asserts.

Brilliantly written, reading the book is like hopping on to a sailing boat and cruising in often rough and challenging waters where the cool and confident captain knows how to ride the waves, and thus making the voyage an engrossing experience of adventures and inspirations.

----30---

The Past of Modi Should Not be dimmed To Look for Future

By PROMOD PURI

In the dazzle of his "landslide victory"( BJP securing 31% votes) should we dim the legacy of Narendra Modi as chief minister of Gujarat during the past over ten years.

If so, it would be a suppression of our perception and sensibility that in this celebration of near eclipse of dynastic and corrupt Congress regime, and dawn of promised economic prosperity under Modi's premiership that we simply think no more of the massacre in Gujarat.

And that we turn back on serious human rights violation, the rule of intimidation, false police encounters and killings, protection and rehabilitation of convicted genocide criminals.

And that we notice almost dismissal registry of human development as laid out by Noble laureate Amartya Sen and adopted by the United Nations in our obsessiveness on ambiguous "Gujarat Model" of economic growth which has not trickled down to underprivileged and poor.

Under his absolute and authoritative command Modi's downright refusal of giving his party's zero representation to Muslims in the Gujarat state legislature is also part of his legacy.

Fast-forward, Modi is now the prime minister of India after a grueling fight whereby the issues of Gujarat riots and the poor human development records in the state got lost in the hot and often ludicrous personal barbs among the campaign leaders of all the parties. Perhaps the BJP leader steered it that.

As well he strategically put the Hindutva agenda on the back burner and saffron card close to his chest.

However, his entire election drive was more focused on the terse maxim "it's the economy, stupid". All through out the poll operation Modi asked for votes in the name of development, jobs and economic opportunity and stability. In return he promised less government and more governance, decisive leadership as compared to a decade of dithering, and economic growth as against stagnation.

 “The government should hear from the poor and work for the poor. My government will be dedicated to the poor, youth and women. It will be a government of villages, farmers, Dalits and deprived sections. All efforts will be aimed to live up to their hopes and expectations,” Modi said as he stepped in first time the Indian parliament.

In the "temple of democracy",as he epitomized the institution of parliament, "humbled and grateful" Modi seems to be in the process to attain a new avatar.

In all fairness, after winning a mammoth, clean and fair election with a promise of strong leadership, India's new democratically elected prime minister has certainly "given wings to the hope, aspirations and dreams of millions", and that includes the 69 percent who did not vote for him.